JPH0976598A - Positioning apparatus and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a positioning apparatus capable of inexpensively determining the position from the end surface of a sheet. SOLUTION: A positioning apparatus is constituted of a reflection type sensor 25 wherein a spot diameter is smaller than the width of the bar code applied to a sheet, feed means 23a, 23b, 26 feeding the sheet and a controller detecting the end part of a bar code from the detection output of the reflection type sensor and determining the position on the sheet separated from the end part of the bar code by a predetermined distance after the detection of the end part of the detected bar code.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints on a determined position of a conveyed member such as a single-cut sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when printing on a single-cut sheet, the end surface of the single-cut sheet is detected by using an optical sensor such as a transmission sensor, and the distance from the end surface is taken into consideration to print at a predetermined position. I was going to do it.

[0003]

However, in the worst case, when the end surface of a single-cut sheet is detected by the transmission sensor, the distance from the end surface of the single-cut sheet to the print line varies depending on the cutting state of the paper. There is a problem that printing is performed on the characters that are printed in advance on the single-cut sheet.

In order to solve this problem, a bar code near the end of the cut sheet is attached, and this bar code is used as a CCD.
There is also a printer which detects the output by the line sensor, performs image processing on the detection output of the CCD, detects the bar code, and prints at a predetermined distance from the bar code.

However, although the accuracy of detecting the bar code is improved by using the CCD line sensor as described above, the CCD line sensor is used to detect the CCD.
A processing circuit for image-processing the detection output of the line sensor is also required, and there is a problem that the cost is significantly increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a positioning device and a printing device that can inexpensively determine the position of the transported member from the end face.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a positioning device including a reflection type sensor having a spot diameter smaller than a width of a bar code provided on a member to be conveyed, and a conveyer for conveying the member to be conveyed. Means for detecting the end of the bar code from the detection output of the reflection type sensor, and the bar end after the end of the bar code is detected by the end detecting means. -Positioning means for positioning a position on the member to be conveyed which is separated from the end of the cord by a predetermined distance.

A positioning device according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the reflective sensor according to the first aspect is a lens built-in type. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a positioning device including a transmissive sensor for detecting an end of the transported member according to the first aspect, and the reflective sensor for a predetermined time after the front end of the transported member is detected by the transmissive sensor. It is characterized in that the detection output of is taken in.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus in which a reflection type sensor having a spot diameter smaller than a width of a bar code applied to a member to be conveyed, a conveying means for conveying the member to be conveyed, and the reflection type sensor. An end detecting means for detecting the end of the bar code from the detection output of the sensor, and the bar code after the end of the bar code is detected by the end detecting means. It is characterized by further comprising a positioning means for positioning a position on the member to be conveyed which is separated from the end portion by a predetermined distance, and a printing means for printing at the position determined by the positioning means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the reflection type sensor according to the fourth aspect is a lens built-in type. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing device including a transmission sensor for detecting an end portion of the transported member according to the fourth aspect, and the reflection type is provided for a predetermined time after the front end portion of the transported member is detected by the transmission sensor. It is characterized in that the detection output of the sensor is fetched.

That is, according to the present invention, the bar code applied to the member to be conveyed is detected by an inexpensive reflection type sensor, and the bar code is detected.
It is positioned at a position separated from the code by a predetermined distance.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus for performing accurate printing on a printing column of a cut sheet sheet as a member to be conveyed on which a bar code is printed together with the printing column as shown in FIG.

First, a cut sheet will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, 11 is a rectangular cut sheet. At the top of this cut sheet 11 is NAME, DATE
OFBIRTH (Birthday), SEX (Gender), CORPORATION
The printing column 12 is preprinted with the letters (company).

Barcodes 13 and 14 having a width of X are printed on the lower portion of the single-cut sheet 11 in advance on both ends of the lower portion of the single-cut sheet 11. The lower side 11 of this cut sheet 11
An area having a width Y from a to bar codes 13 and 14 is set as a detection area 15 for detecting the bar code.

The cut sheet 11 is inserted into the printer in the direction of arrow 16. And bar code 13 or 14
From the trailing edges 13a, 14a to the NAME line of the printing column 12,
Distance Z1, Z to DATEOF BIRTH line, CORPORATION line
The distances to 2 and Z3 are preset.

By the way, the widths X of the bar codes 13 and 14 are
The width Y of the detection area 15 and the rear edge 13a or 14a of the bar code 13 or 14 to the NAME of the print column 12
Distance to line, DATE OF BIRTH line, CORPORATION line Z
1, Z2 and Z3 are preset in a memory (not shown) in the controller described later.

Next, referring to FIG. 1, the cut sheet 11 of FIG.
A printing device that performs printing in the print column 12 will be described. In FIG. 1, the printing apparatus includes a transport path 21 for transporting the single-cut sheet 11 of FIG. 6 in the direction of arrow 16.
Are formed.

A first transmission sensor 22 for detecting the insertion of the cut sheet 11 is installed at the entrance of the transport path 21. The first transmission sensor 22 is installed so that the light emitting element and the light receiving element sandwich the conveyance path 21, and the lower side 11a of the cut sheet 11 is the first side.
When the optical axis of the transmission sensor 22 is blocked, the detection signal a is output.

Then, a pair of drive rollers 23a, 2 for taking in the single-cut sheet 11 behind the first transmission sensor 22.
3b is installed. Furthermore, this drive roller 23
A second transmission sensor 24 for detecting the arrival of the lower side 11a of the cut sheet 11 is further provided behind the a and 23b. The configuration of the second transmission sensor 24 is the same as that of the first transmission sensor 22, and outputs the detection signal b.

Further, behind the second transmission sensor 24, a reflection type sensor 25 for detecting the bar code 14 printed on the single-cut sheet 11 is installed. A reflective sensor pinch roller 26 is installed at a position facing the reflective sensor 25 with the conveyance path 21 in between. The detailed configuration of the reflective sensor 25 will be described later with reference to FIG. The reflective sensor 25 outputs a detection signal c.

A print head 27 is installed downstream of the conveyance path 21 by a predetermined distance from the reflection type sensor 25. A platen 28 is arranged at a position facing the print head 27 with the transport path 21 in between.

Further, on the downstream side of the print head 27, a pair of transport drive rollers 29a and 29b are provided with the transport path 21 interposed therebetween.
Is provided. Next, a control block diagram of the printing apparatus configured as shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

In FIG. 2, the detection signals a and b of the first and second transmission sensors 22 and 24 and the detection signal c of the reflection type sensor 25 are input to the controller 31. Although not shown, this controller 31 is a CPU (central processing unit)
And its peripheral circuits, such as a memory, are mainly configured. In this memory, the width X of the bar codes 13 and 14 described above, the width Y of the detection area 15, the 14a of the bar code 14 to the NAME line, the DATE OF BIRTH line, and the CORPOR line of the print column 12 are stored.
Distances Z1, Z2, Z3 to the ATION line are stored in advance. Further, the memory of the controller 31 has a structure shown in FIG.
The control program is stored as in the flowchart of FIG.

Further, the controller 31 is connected to the pair of drive rollers 23a and 23b, the reflection type sensor pinch roller 26, and the drive motor 31 for driving the platen 26 described above. The motor 31 is composed of, for example, a stepping motor. By controlling the pulse signal p supplied to the stepping motor, the transport distance of the single-cut sheet 11 on the transport path 21 can be controlled. Has become.

Next, the detailed structure of the reflective sensor 25 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 41 is a cylindrical housing. A bottom plate 43 to which a base 42 is attached is attached to one open end of the housing 41.

An LED (light emitting diode) 44 as a light emitting element and a photo diode 45 as a light receiving element are installed on the base 42 at a predetermined distance. Two convex lenses 46 a and 4 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 41.
A lens 46 integrally formed is mounted so that 6b are adjacent to each other.

The convex lens 46a collects the light emitted from the LED 44 on the single-cut sheet 11, and the convex lens 46b collects the light reflected on the single-cut sheet 11 on the photo diode 45. It has the function of

For example, a spot 51 when the light from the LED 44 is condensed on the bar code 14 of the cut-sheet paper 11
Has a diameter of 0.2 mm. The diameter of this spot 51 is
If the width is smaller than the width X of the cords 13 and 14, the accuracy can be improved as the width is smaller, but as shown in FIG. 3, it may be about 1/5 of the width X of the bar code 13.

The pinch roller 26 of FIG. 1 presses the cut-sheet paper 11 conveyed through the conveyance path 21 against the reflection type sensor 25 to position the cut-sheet paper 11 at the focal length f of the convex lenses 46a and 46b. I try to keep it.

In FIG. 3, 47 is a transparent plate. Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a circuit in the controller 31 that processes the detection signal c of the reflective sensor 25 will be described.

First, the analog detection signal c from the reflection type sensor 25 is amplified by the preamplifier 61 and the amplifier 62, and then input to the + terminal of the comparator 63. Further, the output of the amplifier 62 is input to an envelope creating section 64 mainly composed of an integrator, and an envelope signal of the detection signal c is created. Then, the voltage of the envelope signal is lowered by the level shifter 65, and the voltage having the waveform e as shown in FIG. 5 is input to the minus terminal of the comparator 63.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the detection output of the reflection type sensor 25 has a large amount of reflected light in the portion of the white background other than the bar code 13, so that the level is as shown in C1. Is high, and the amount of reflected light is low in the black area of the bar code 14, so the level is low as indicated by C2.

Since the voltage of the envelope created by the envelope creating unit 64 is lowered by the level shift unit 65, only the C2 portion (that is, the bar code 14 portion) is high. A level digital signal Cd is obtained. Therefore, the pulse width of the digital signal Cd is
It has a width corresponding to the width X of the cord 13.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. A case where the cut sheet 11 is inserted into the printing apparatus of FIG. First, when trying to insert the cut-sheet paper 11 toward the transport path 21, the detection signal a of the first transmission sensor 22 is detected.
Turns on. It is determined whether or not the detection signal a is turned on (step S1), and when it is turned on, the drive motor 31 is driven by the controller 31 (step S2).

By driving the driving motor 31, the single-cut sheet 11 is conveyed through the conveying path 21. Next, it is determined whether the second transmission sensor 24 is turned on (step S
3). Here, the cut sheet 11 is conveyed through the conveyance path 21,
When the side 11a of the cut sheet 11 approaches the position of the second transmission sensor 24, it is determined as "YES" in step S3.

As described above, after the side 11a of the cut sheet 11 is detected by the second transmission sensor 24, the side of the side 11a of the cut sheet 11 is reflected by the reflective sensor 25 in consideration of the conveying speed of the conveying path 21. The process of capturing the output of the reflective sensor 25 is performed only during the period from the arrival of the signal to the passage of the detection region 15 (step S4).

This is to prevent erroneous detection of the bar code 14 outside the detection area 15. In step S5, the detection signal c of the reflective sensor 25 is taken in, and the trailing edge portion Cde of the digital signal Cd in FIG. 5B is detected (step S5). The trailing edge Cde is the trailing edge 14a of the bar code 14 printed on the cut-sheet paper 11.
Coincides with the timing of crossing the reflective sensor 25.

The rear edge 14 of this bar code 14
Since the distances z1 to z3 from a to the printing position to be printed are set in the memory, the cut sheet 1 on the transport path 21
Considering the transport speed of 1, the rear edge 14 of the bar code 14
The time from when the a crosses the reflective sensor 25 to the start of printing is calculated, and the printing is started after the predetermined time (step S6).

Since the print position is determined with reference to the bar code 14 as described above, the print position can be accurately determined even if the side 11a of the cut sheet 11 is missing.
Further, since the reflection type sensor 25 has the lenses 46a and 46b built therein, the spot diameter can be made smaller than the width X of the bar codes 13 and 14, and the edge detection of the bar codes 13 and 14 can be performed accurately. It can be carried out. Moreover, the reflective sensor 25
Is much cheaper than a CCD sensor, so an inexpensive positioning device can be provided.

In the above embodiment, only one reflection type sensor 25 is used. However, two reflection type sensors are used, and as shown in FIG. -Do 1
3 and 14 are printed, the positions of the respective bar codes 13 and 14 are detected by two reflection type sensors, and the signals from the bar codes 13 and 14 are compared. −
Detection can be performed. Further, when the cut sheet is tilted, it may be used for the correction. The present invention can be applied not only to the printing apparatus but also to a processing apparatus which detects the position of the bar code and performs other processing with the bar code as a reference.

[0041]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, an inexpensive reflective sensor is used to detect the position of the bar code,
Since, for example, the printing position is determined based on the position, it is possible to provide a positioning device that can determine the position at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a reflective sensor.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing circuit for processing a detection signal of a reflective sensor.

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram for explaining processing of a detection signal of a reflective sensor.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a cut sheet.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of one embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 ... Transport path, 22 ... First transmission sensor, 23a, 23
b ... drive roller, 24 ... second transmission sensor, 25 ... reflective sensor, 26 ... pinch roller, 27 ... print head, 2
8 ... Platen

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A reflection type sensor having a spot diameter smaller than the width of a bar code applied to a member to be conveyed, a conveying means for conveying the member to be conveyed, and a detection output of the reflection type sensor to detect the bar. -Detecting means for detecting the end portion of the code, and an object which is separated from the end portion of the bar code by a predetermined distance after the end portion of the bar code is detected by the end detecting means. A positioning device comprising: positioning means for positioning the position on the conveying member. 2. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the reflection type sensor is a lens built-in type. 3. A transmission sensor for detecting an end of the transported member is provided, and the detection output of the reflection type sensor is taken in only for a predetermined time after the front end of the transported member is detected by the transmission sensor. The positioning device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning device is provided. 4. A reflection type sensor having a spot diameter smaller than the width of a bar code applied to a conveyed member, a conveying means for conveying the conveyed member, and a barometer based on a detection output of the reflection sensor. -End detecting means for detecting the end of the code; and after the end of the bar code is detected by the end detecting means, a predetermined distance from the end of the bar code. A printing apparatus comprising: a positioning unit that positions a position on the transported member; and a printing unit that prints at the position determined by the positioning unit. 5. The printer according to claim 4, wherein the reflective sensor is a lens built-in type. 6. A transmission sensor for detecting an end of the transported member is provided, and the detection output of the reflection type sensor is taken in only for a predetermined time after the front end of the transported member is detected by the transmission sensor. The printing device according to claim 4, wherein